Type: Roman Weights (for measuring product)
Age: 1st-3rd Century CE
Era: Roman
Culture: Roman
Excavated: Unknown


Have you ever wondered why the abbreviation of pound is lb? The ancient Roman equivalent of a pound was called a Libra, which abbreviated is lb. Can you guess the western equivalent to the ancient Roman Uncia? If you guessed ounce, you would be correct. Sorry, there is no prize...or participation trophies for this game show. 

Just as today, when people went shopping they would need a specific amount of a product. These weights were used as counter balances to determine how much product was on the scale. 

Throughout the Bible we read about dishonest merchants who would use deceptive weights and measures to rip off the people. 

Hear this, you who trample the needy, to do away with the humble of the land, 5 saying,
“When will the new moon be over,
So that we may sell grain,
And the sabbath, that we may open the wheat market,
To make the bushel smaller and the shekel bigger,
And to cheat with dishonest scales,
6 So as to buy the helpless for money
And the needy for a pair of sandals,
And that we may sell the refuse of the wheat?”

Amos 8:4-6